TRAVERSE CITY -- Curt Fraser's first official act of coaching with the Grand Rapids Griffins actually came one week before training camp opened at Centre I.C.E. Arena on Sept. 20.

Fraser worked with a number of players at the Detroit Red Wings' annual prospects tournament Sept. 13-17, and came away impressed with the organization's young talent.

"A lot of good, young kids and they competed very hard. The entire camp and tournament was very strong," said Fraser, who was hired to coach the Griffins in July.

"I was here nine years ago and our team competed and I watched it, but it was more hook-and-hold, a lot of scrapping, a more physical style play. But this was very fast, good skills and the kids showed very well in the tournament."

Fraser had a difficult time narrowing down the list of players he thought stood out.

He said veteran Griffins like defenseman Jakub Kindl and forward Mattias Ritola played well, as did rookie forwards Justin Abdelkader, Jan Mursak and Cory Emmerton, who had six points in four games.

Fraser also thought goaltenders Jimmy Howard and Daniel Larsson, who likely will be the Griffins' tandem in net this season, were strong.

"It was just nice to get out on the ice with them and see what they were like in practice," Fraser said. "Run through the drills, run through everything at a very high speed, and they didn't seem to have a problem with it. So we should have a good, fast team this year."

Griffins general manager Bob McNamara also thought Emmerton made big strides, while Abdelkader and Kindl took another step in their development.

"We're excited about our team," McNamara said. "We think we're going to be younger, but certainly more skilled than we were last year."

Fraser's next step in training camp is to assimilate himself with the rest of the Griffins, while also learning from the Red Wings' coaching staff.

Fraser already has gone over the Griffins' likely roster with McNamara and assistant coach Jim Paek, and met with each player before camp opened.

"A lot of the guys that were in Grand Rapids before, they didn't come to the prospects camp. Now I get a good look at them," Fraser said. "I really had a good experience with a lot of the guys we had in the prospects camp, so there are some good things happening right now. We're going to get some real good players for Grand Rapids."

Paek said his rapport with Fraser has been good so far.

"The communication has been fantastic. We talk hockey, and it's been real good, a little input here and there," Paek said. "We've been working as a team."

By the end of training camp, Fraser hopes to have himself completely educated on the players he didn't see at the prospects tournament so he can evaluate what the Griffins' strengths and weaknesses will be heading into the season, which starts Oct. 11 at Lake Erie.

"I think after the first three days here, we'll get a better look at our guys," Fraser said. "When they play in some of these preseason games coming up, it will give us a better read and give us a better measuring stick to see where we're going to be at the start in Grand Rapids."